The potential role of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder.

The authors examine the role of the serotonergic system in the modulation or genesis of obsessive compulsive disorder and the potential for the use of the new serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors in its treatment. The data available are still preliminary, but are accumulating rapidly, and appear to hold promise in helping to understand this disorder and treat it more effectively. An overview of the data available is presented to assist in the planning of future research in this subject area. At least six major questions need to be addressed by future work: (1) What are the major hypotheses regarding the involvement of the serotonin system in the modulation or genesis of OCD? (2) Is there a serotonin system defect associated with OCD? (3) Is a serotonin system defect the underlying cause of OCD? (4) Are serotonin reuptake inhibitors effective in the treatment of OCD? (5) Are the effects of the serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are effective in treating OCD mediated via the serotonin system or via another mechanism? and (6) Are these drugs worth pursuing as treatment of OCD?